Web feeding mechanism



Nov. 16, 1937. A. H. BLOHM V 2,098,940

WEB FEEDING MECHANISM Filed March 8, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WM W644 ATTQRN YS Nov. 16, 1937. A. H. BLOHM 2,093,940

WEB FEEDING MECHANISM Filed March 8, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTOR WMIQMAT+M ATTOURNEYS A. H. BLOHM WEB FEEDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 25 Nov. 16, 1937.

Filed March a, 1930 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 16, 1937 MESSUEB 2,098,940 wan mnnmo MECHANISM August H. Blohrn, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Trans-Luz Corporation, New York, N. Y.,. a corporation of Delaware Application March 8, 1930, Serial No. 434,272

3 Claims.

My invention relates to web feeding mechanism particularly such as is'utilizable for feeding a character-bearing web or tape through a projection field or with respect to a picture aperture.

My invention relates to a novel and eflicient web feeding arrangement wherein the feeding mechanism is positioned adjacent that side of a projectionfield or picture aperture toward which i the web is moving.

Various other objects, advantages and characterlstics of my invention will become apparent for an illustration of one of the many forms thereof, reference is to be-had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view. partly in elevation, of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionaLview, partly in plan, and is taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2

lool ring in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, partlyln elevation, of the upper part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; t

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of certain control mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of other control mechanism; and

Fig. 7 is an elevational view, reduced in scale and with parts omitted, and looking in the generai direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, i represents a suitable base from which the spaced plates 2,3, and 4 upstand. A shaft 5 journaled in the plates 3 and 4 carries a printing wheel 6 having char- I acters distributed peripherally thereof. A guide member I carried by said plates 3 and 4 is positioned to one side of roller 8 which receives ink from any suitable source, not shown, and transfers the same to the printing wheel 6.

Rotatable with the wheel 6 is a sleeve 3 freely which have side-by-side extensions forming a bearing for the aforesaid roller 8, Fig. 2. The sleeve 9 forms a splined connection with the shaft 5 which is triangular whereby the wheel 6 is rotatable with said shaft while at the same 5 time freely movable-therealong.

Connected to opposite sides of the aforesaid connecting frame are the respective flexible elements-l2 and I3. The flexible element l2 extends intocoacting relation with a pulley l4 and 10 then to a drum I5 to which it isconnected, said drum l5 having a peripherally formed spiral groove. The flexible element l3 extends into coacting relation with a pulley l6 and then to a drum I! to which it is connected, said drum l5 l1 also having a peripherally formed spiral groove. The spiral grooves on the drums l5 and I! are adapted for the reception of the respective flexible elements I2 and [3 upon which they wind in opposite directions so that one win up as the other winds ofi.

The drums l5 and I1 are rotatable with a shaft l8 mounted in bearings in the plates 3 and 4, said shaft l8 having rotatable therewith a pinion 9 which meshes with a gear 20 carried by a shaft 2| also mounted in hearings in the plates 3 and 4. The shaft I8 carries a pinion 23 which meshes with a gear 24 carried by the shaft 2|. Springs 26 and 21 are coiled about the respective shafts l8 and 2|, the arrangement being such that rotation of the shaft I8 in one direction causes the springs to be wound, said springs thereby tending to rotate the shaft l8 in the opposite direction.

The shaft l8 carries a ratchet wheel 28 with 3 I which coacts a holding pawl 29 pivoted to the plate 3, Figs. 1 and 6. An actuating pawl 30 also coacts with the ratchet wheel 28 and is biased into engagement therewith by a spring. 3| which biases said pawl 30 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 6. The pawl 30 is actuated as here-' inafter described.

Rotatable in bearings in the plates 2, 3, and 4 isa drive shaft 32 carrying, exteriorly of the plate 2, a ratchet wheel 33, Fig. 5, with which 45 a pawl 34 coacts. The shaft 32 carries a fly wheel 35 and a sleeve 36 freely rotatable thereon, the sleeve having a. housing 31 and a gear38 movabletherewith. The housing 31 contains a coiled leaf spring, one end of which is connected thereto and the other end of which is connected to the shaft 32.

The gear 38 meshes with a gear 39 rotatable with a. shaft 40 disposed between the plates 2 and 3 and in alinement with the aforesaid shaft with the shaft is a scape-wheel 4| with which coacts the end of an armature 42 actuatable by the coils 43, 43a which are associated with the magnet 44.

Rotatable in hearings in the plates 3 and 4 is a shaft 45 adapted to receive a cylinder upon which has been wound a web of paper or the like, the paper roll being indicated at 46 in Fig. 6 and being disposed at one side of an end plate 41 carried by the end of the shaft 45 and rotatable therewith.

The end plate 41 is notched on its periphery as shown in Fig. 6 and coactable therewith is a pivoted pawl 48 and a pawl element 49. The latter is carried by alever 60 pivoted on a member 5! in turn pivoted at 62 on the side plate 3. The lever 56 is biased in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 6, by a spring 63, movement in such direction being limited by a stop member 64 upstanding from the base I. Pivoted to that end of member 5| removed from lever 56 is one end of a link 55, the other end of which is pivoted to the aforesaid pawl 48.

Slidable vertically along the plate 3, Fig. 6, is a member 56 carrying. at its lower end, a member 51 which forms a stop limiting clockwise movement, Fig. 6, of the lever 66. The member 66 is disposed beyond the end plate 41 shown in. Fig. 6 and, at its upper end, carries a member 66 which comprises an angular section 59 extending above the paper roll 46 and terminating in a downward- 1y extending section 66 carrying a roller 6| coactable with said paper roll 46.

The aforesaid pawl 43 is carried by and oscillatory with a shaft 62 journaled for oscillatory movement in the plates 2 and 3. Fig. 5, the shaft 62 extends beyond the plate 2 and there carries a iever 63 which is movable therewith and biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 64. The lever 63 has a nose 6311 with which is coactable a pawl 65 pivoted on the end of 'a lever 66 carried by and oscillatory with a shaft 61 extending between the plates 2 and 3 where it carries an armature 68 coactable with an electromagnet coil 69. v

The end of the aforesaid pawl 65 is bifurcated for the slidable reception of one end of a member 10 carried by the'pivoted armature Ii ofan electromagnet coil 12. As shown in Fig. 5, the armature II is connected by a member 13 with the pivoted armature 14 of another electromagnet coil 15.

Referring to Fig. 6, the aforesaid pawl 46, at the end thereof removed from the plate 4 1, is shown as coactable with the otherwise free end ofthe aforesaid holding pawl 23. Between the plates 2 and 3, the shaft 62 carries a lever 16 which-is oscillatory therewithand, at its free end. has a lateral extension'Tl coactable with the aforesaid actuating pawl 36, as hereinafter described.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the web W from the paper roll 46 passes along a path which extends closely adjacent the printing, wheel 6 where it bends around a platen 16, the web W being maintained taut as hereinafter described. r Mechanism of the type heretofore described is well known to the printing telegraph art as a Burry printer and issubstantially the same as that described and illustrated in U. 8. Letters Patent to Burry, 680,693,, August 20, 1901, to which reference may be had for a more complete disclosure'pf the printing mechanism and the operating mechanism therefor.

that the spring in the housing 31 is As shown in energized, the operatongin response to successive energization of the coils 43 and 43a, may vibrate 'the armature 42. to an extent permitting rotative movement of the printing wheel 6 until the character which is to be printed is either in position a or position 111, Fig. 2. Rotative movement of the printing wheel 6 thus occurs because the spring in housing 31 imparts rotative movement to the gears 38, 33, shaft 40, the scape-wheel 4| and shafts 46 and 6 when the armature 42 is vibrated as stated above, the number of halfcycles' made by said armature 42 determining the position to be taken by the scape-wheel 4| and the printing wheel 6.

After the character to be printed has been brought to either position a or an as stated above, an operation is performed by suitable mechanism, not shown, whereby the printing wheel 6 is moved slightly in one direction or the other to position said character in printing position and to temporarily lock said wheel 6 in its last named position.

Thereafter, by suitable mechanism, the platen I6 is quickly moved from left to right, Fig. 2, to press a section of the web W against that character now in printing position, the platen 16 immediately returning to the position shown in F18. 2.

Immediately after this operation, the actuating pawl 36 is moved downwardly. Fig. 6, to rotate the ratchet wheel 26 and shaft i6 one step in a clockwise direction, Fig. 6. As a result. the drums l6 and l 'l are similarly rotated, the former paying out the flexible element I2 and the latter taking up the flexible element l3. Accordingly. the printing wheel 6 is moved one step from left to right, Fig. 1, into position laterally of the web W where the next character is to be printed. In response to the aforesaid rotation of shaft l6, the springs 26 and 21 are somewhat energized but they are ineffective to rotate the shaft l8 in reverse direction at this time due to the action of holding pawl 23 on ratchet wheel 26.

The operation described above is repeated successively, characters on the printing wheel 6 being selected as desired to print a line or a part of a line of information. When the printing wheel 6 has reached the limit of its path of movement to the right, Fig. 1, or some intermediate position and it is desired to return the same to the limit of its path of movement to the left, Fig. 1, (the initial position of the printing wheel 6), the following operations are performed:

After the last letter has been printed, the

' circuit through the magnets 43, 43a is broken tion, Fig. 5, whereby the shaft 62 is rotated in the same direction. v

In response to such rotation of the shaft 62, the lever I6 and pawl 46 are swung in a clockwise direction, Fig. 6, the lever 16 disengaging the actuating pawl 36 from the ratchet wheel 26 and the pawl 46 disengaging the pawl 26 from said ratchet wheel, the latter'and the shaft l6 becoming free to rotate in a counter-clockwise gdirection, Fig. 6, which they immediately do under the influence of the springs 26 and 21, which, during movement of the printing wh l 6 from left to right, Fig. 1, have had progressively increasing amounts of energy stored therein. Rotation of the shaft l8 as last described imparts similar rotative movement to the drums l5 and H, the former taking up its flexible element 12 and the latter paying out its flexible element l3. Due to such movement of the flexible elements I! and 3, the printing wheel 6 is returned to its position at the left or its initial position.

As a further result of the last described rotation of shaft 62 which, as stated, swings the pawl 48 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 6, the end of said pawl 48 to the right, Fig. 6, is removed from engagement with the teeth on the periphery of plate 41 and, through the link 55, the member 5| is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 6, whereby the pawl 49 of lever 50 is moved into engagement with the toothed periphery of plate 41. The result effected by this operation will be hereinafter described.

In accordance with my invention, the web W is moved through a projection field or zone, or with respect to a picture aperture where a light beam coacts therewith to produce on a suitable screen images of the characters on that section of the web within said projection field or picture aperture. Further in accordance with my invention, suitable mechanism is provided immediately adjacent that side of the projection field or picture aperture removed from the printing wheel 6 for imparting a step of movement to the web W each time that said printing wheel returns to its ,initial position. Such mechanism may assume any one of a variety of forms, one only of which is herein illustrated and described for purposes of explanation of my invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the plates 3 and 4 are shown, respectively, as having supplementary plates or members 86 and 8| secured thereto in any suitable manner and upstanding therefrom. Extending through said plates are spaced tie rods 82 supporting a web-backing plate 83 which, if desired but not necessarily, may be corrugated or undulating as illustrated. Carried by the respective plates and 8| are the sheet-like members 84 and 85 which extend toward each other and are formed, preferably, of resilient material so that they are inherently biased toward the backing plate 83.

Rotatably mounted in the aforesaid plates 88 and 8| immediately adjacent the top thereof is a shaft 86 which carries the web-feeding rollers 81 and ,88 spaced a distance slightly less than the width of the web alld each of which, on its outer peripheral surface, may carry a ring 89 of relatively soft material, as soft rubber or the like. As illustrated particularly in Fig. 4, the rollers 81 and 88 are so connected to the shaft 86 that they are freely rotatable thereon but incapable of movement longitudinally thereof. This result is obtained, in the example shown, due to the provision of the roller-carrying pins 98 which enter peripheral slots provided respectively therefor in the shaft 86.

oppositely coiled on the shaft 86 are a pair of spiral spring structures 9| and 92, adjacent ends of said spring structure:-; 9| and 92 being suitably secured to the shaft 88 adjacent its center, as by connection to adisk 92a carried by and rotatable with said shaft 86. The other end of spring structure 9| is suitably connected to the hub of roller 81 and the other end of spring structure 92 is similarly connected to the hub of roller 88.

The aforesaid plates 86 and 8| may carry, respectively, the extensions 88:: and 8| a which extend toward each other, each pivotaliy supporting an arm 93 carrying an idler roller 94, the idler rollers 94 overlying the respective rollers 81 and 88 and being suitably biased toward the latter.

In accordance with my invention, the web W is extended immediately adjacent one side of the backing plate 83, opposite edges of said web being disposed between said backing plate and the sheet-like members 84 and 85, Fig. 3. Beyond the backing plate 83, theweb W extends over the feed rollers 81 and 88 and is firmly held in engagement therewith by the biased idler rollers 94, Figs. 2 and 4.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the aforesaid shaft 86, adjacent the plate 8|, carries a gear 95 which meshes with the end gear 96 of a gear train comprising the gears 91, 98, and 99, said gears 96, 91, 98, and 99 being suitably mounted for free rotatable movement on the plate 8|. The gear 99 meshes with a pinion I88 secured to and rotatable with the aforesaid drive shaft 32.

During operation of the printing mechanism, the pawl 34, Fig. 5, intermittently operates the ratchet wheel 33 whereby the shaft 32 partakes of similar rotative movement. Due to such movement of the shaft 32, the spring in the housing 31 is also wound. Due also to such movement of the shaft-32, the gear train comprising the gears I88, 99, 98, 91, 96, and 95 are actuated to intermittently rotate the shaft 66. The shaft 32, or equivalent therefor, is a source of power by which rotation of the printing wheel 6 and movement of the web W is effected.

In accordance with my invention, the web W is extended through the projection zone or field as shown particularly in Fig. 2, the idler rollers 94 clamping adjacent sections of the web against the feed rollers 81 and 88. In this position, the web remains stationary while the printing wheel 6 starts from its initial position at the left, Fig. 1, and moves to the right to print all or a part of a line of characters. At this time, also, the roll of paper 46 is maintained stationary due to coaction of the pawl 48 with the plate 41 as shown in Fig. 6.

As the printing wheel 6 moves further and further to the right, Fig. 1, the shaft 32 is rotated,

due to the above described action of pawl 34, and, due to the gear train, the shaft 86 is also rotated. However, movement of the feed rollers 81 and 88 does not occur at this time because movement of the paper roll 46 is prevented as just stated and, therefore, the web W remains stationary. Since the web is stationary, the feed rollers 81 and 88 also remain stationary since they are clamped to said web by the idler rollers 94.

Therefore, the shaft 86 rotates while the feed rollers 81 and 88 remain stationary and, as a result, the springs 9| and 92 are wound. Eventually, when the shaft 62 is actuated, as hereinbefore described, to cause the printing wheel 6 to return to its initial position, the pawl 48 is disengaged from the plate 4'! also as hereinbefore described. The roll of paper 46 is now freed from restraint and, accordingly, the springs 9| and 92 become effective to rotate the feed rollers 81 and 88 whereby the web is moved by said feed rollers 81 and 88 through the projection field or zone, and with respect to and by the printing wheel 6.

Such movement of the web W may be limited in any suitable manner. As shown although not necessarily, the pawl 49 is thus utilized, the latter moving into engagement with the plate 41 at the time of disengagement therefrom of the pawl 48 Accordingly when the paper roll 46 and the plate 41 move in a clockwise direction, Fig. 6, under the influence of the feed rollers 81 and 88, the pawl 49 and lever 50 move therewith, the latter soon coming into contact with the member Q1 and discontinuing movement of the paper roll 4. and the web W, the latter now being in its next projecting position.

The member 51 is adjustable vertically under the influence of roller it to position said member 51 in different vertical positions in accordance with the diameter of the paper roll 46. As a result, the spacing between adjacent lines of printea matter on the web is rendered independent of the diameter of the paper roll.

'. After the action described above has been accomplished, the magnet 69 is released whereby the shaft 62 rotates counter-clockwise, Fig. 6,

and the parts come into the normal position shown in said Fig. 6"and the next line of information may be printed on the web W.

As shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 7, the web W is moved through the projection field or zone by apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention. While in such zone,

light or a light beam coacts substantially with a section of the web W which may be defined or framed by an aperture II of a plate structure I02 which as disclosed in my,copending application Ser. No. 434,273, flled March 8, 1930 may be the wall of a lamp housing, images of the characterson said web section being projected onto a suitable screen.

As illustrated, the web-feeding mechanism, 1. e. the rollers 81 and 88, in the example shown, although this arrangement may be varied desired, are positioned at the side of the pro ection zone opposite the printing wheel 8 which, as

shown but by no means necessarily, is positioned within said zone. Butone device or mechanism, namely, the rollers 81 and 18, in the example shown, is utilized for moving'or feeding the web W through the projection zone, and with respect to and by the printing wheel 8. This web feeding mechanism, as herein illustrated and described, is under the control ofthe operator and is intermittently operated by control of the same mechanism that returns the printing wheel 6 to its initial position. Such control of the web W is highly desirable and, to a marked extent, is move advantageous than arrangements of the prior art wherein a plurality of independent devices are utilized for feeding the web, one of said devices ejecting the web from the printing mechanism and the other of said devices moving the web through the projection zone.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described in connection with a projection system of the "reflecting" character, it shall be understoodthat the invention is not to be so limited since, as well, it is applicable to projection systents of the through type wherein the. light beam passes from the source of light through the web and then to the eyes of the audience.

It shall be understood that the arrangement herein illustrated for imparting movement to the web is one only of many suitable arrangements which may be utilized and that my invention, partlcul rly a regards the herein described gear train is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangement.

Still further, it shall be understood that my invention is not to be limited to printing mechanisms of the type herein illustrated, i. e., a Hurry printer since certain broad and important features of my invention are applicable to other typ s of printing mechanisms such, for example. as those known to the art as Dow-Jones printers.

While'the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bulletin printing apparatus, a telegraph printer adapted to print transversely of a web, a web take-up mechanism, a panel extending between said printer and take-up mechanism and means for maintaining said web continuously in contact with said panel as it passes from'the printer to the take-up mechanism.

2. In a bulletin printing apparatus, a telegraph printer adapted to print transversely of a web, a panel extending upwardly from said printer and separately driven take-up means acting at opposite margins of the web to draw the same upwardly across the panel and for applying a continuous tensionthereto to maintainthe web in contact with the'panel. v

3. In a bulletin printing apparatus, a telegraph printer adapted to print transversely of a web, a

- panel extending upwardly from said printer and separately driven take-up means acting at opposite margins of the web to draw the same upwardly across the panel and for applying a continuous tension thereto to maintain the web in contact with the panel, said take-up means being resilient whereby the web is rendered yieldable during the printing stroke.

4. In a bulletin printing apparatus, a telegraph printer adapted to print transversely of a web, a platen for said printer across which the W$3 passes, a panel extending upwardly from saidprinter and separately driven take-up means acting at opposite margins of the web to draw the same upwardly across the panel and to apply a continuous tension thereto to maintain the web in contact with the panel, said take-up means. platen, and the surface of the panel being disposed substantially in line.

' 5. In a bulletin printing apparatus, a telegraph printer adapted to print transversely of a web, a platen for said printer across which the web passes, a panel extending upwardly from said printer, take-up means for drawing the webupwardly across the panel, said take-up means, the platen and'the surface of the panel being disposed substantially in line.

AUGUST H. 310mm. 

